Apparatus and method for core body warming of mammals experiencing hypothermia

Abstract

The invention presents an apparatus and a method for core body warming of hypothermic mammals. The apparatus has an enclosing element to be placed around a predetermined body portion of a mammal in a vacuum-tight manner and a vacuum system connected to the enclosing element for generating and maintaining a predetermined negative pressure, preferably between -20 mmHg and -80 mmHg, inside the enclosing element. A heating unit delivers a thermal energy while the vacuum system is maintaining the predetermined negative pressure. The simultaneous application of thermal energy and negative pressure produces vasodilation which promotes absorption of the thermal energy through the surface of the body portion. The circulatory system of the mammal naturally carries the thermal energy to the core body of the mammal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.